Accepted to top choice. Cancel rest of interviews?

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I've just been accepted to my top-choice state school and am pondering canceling some upcoming interviews. I have an interview coming up within the next couple weeks at a school that I really don't see myself choosing above my state school. One thing that I'm looking for, however, is the possibility of receiving a scholarship. Would it be worth it to attend the interview in hopes that they might extend to me a scholarship if I am accepted? Also, is it possible to use a scholarship earned at one school as leverage to try to get another school to offer one as well? Maybe I'm a bit optimistic about my chances: LizzyM score: 78 +/- 1 (for anonymity.) I'm also thinking though that by canceling, there would be a happy applicant getting my interview spot who maybe actually really wants to go to that school.
 
give the interview spot to someone else, you already got what you wanted and i doubt any scholarship you will get will be better than in-state tuition
 
TAA said:
I've just been accepted to my top-choice state school and am pondering canceling some upcoming interviews. I have an interview coming up within the next couple weeks at a school that I really don't see myself choosing above my state school. One thing that I'm looking for, however, is the possibility of receiving a scholarship. Would it be worth it to attend the interview in hopes that they might extend to me a scholarship if I am accepted? Also, is it possible to use a scholarship earned at one school as leverage to try to get another school to offer one as well? Maybe I'm a bit optimistic about my chances: LizzyM score: 78 +/- 1 (for anonymity.) I'm also thinking though that by canceling, there would be a happy applicant getting my interview spot who maybe actually really wants to go to that school.
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True; you got your first choice school 👍. While you are in no way obliged to cancel your interviews, it would be courteous to others who are awaiting said interview opportunities.
 
TAA said:
I've just been accepted to my top-choice state school and am pondering canceling some upcoming interviews. I have an interview coming up within the next couple weeks at a school that I really don't see myself choosing above my state school. One thing that I'm looking for, however, is the possibility of receiving a scholarship. Would it be worth it to attend the interview in hopes that they might extend to me a scholarship if I am accepted? Also, is it possible to use a scholarship earned at one school as leverage to try to get another school to offer one as well? Maybe I'm a bit optimistic about my chances: LizzyM score: 78 +/- 1 (for anonymity.) I'm also thinking though that by canceling, there would be a happy applicant getting my interview spot who maybe actually really wants to go to that school.
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Your LizzyM score seems high enough that there's a chance of a merit scholarship so yeah, I'd attend the interview and see how it goes. Who knows maybe you'll like it as well
 
Josh7 said:
Your LizzyM score seems high enough that there's a chance of a merit scholarship so yeah, I'd attend the interview and see how it goes. Who knows maybe you'll like it as well
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I agree with Josh, you should go ahead with the interview and see what happens unless this was a backup school you had no remote interest in.
 
Have you attended any other interviews? (I'm assuming yes) If no, then I would attend - you never know, you might end up liking it! However, if you truly don't think there is any chance you would attend, cancel it and let someone who needs it have the interview date.
 
Josh7 said:
Your LizzyM score seems high enough that there's a chance of a merit scholarship so yeah, I'd attend the interview and see how it goes. Who knows maybe you'll like it as well
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Yup, if it's a school that can throw some merit aid or has good packages, go to the interview. If it's a safety that you were luke-warm on in the first place, don't waste your time and money.
 
I suppose I'll elaborate. The tuition difference between the two schools is ~$20K/yr. I've never visited the school I'd be interviewing with, have never visited its city, and don't know much about either the school or city. However, it's close enough to drive from my current location (no airfare.) The reasons I don't see myself not going to my state school is that it's my alma mater (loved it there) and is fairly close to my family. I have interviewed at a couple of other places, but have yet to hear back from them. I did have this conundrum when deciding to decline an interview at a top-10, but the differences between that situation and this one were that the top-10 was far away ($500 airfare I think), I hated the city it was in, didn't think my chances of acceptance were great, and there was no way would I be getting a merit scholarship.
 
TAA said:
I suppose I'll elaborate. The tuition difference between the two schools is ~$20K/yr. I've never visited the school I'd be interviewing with, have never visited its city, and don't know much about either the school or city. However, it's close enough to drive from my current location (no airfare.) The reasons I don't see myself not going to my state school is that it's my alma mater (loved it there) and is fairly close to my family. I have interviewed at a couple of other places, but have yet to hear back from them. I did have this conundrum when deciding to decline an interview at a top-10, but the differences between that situation and this one were that the top-10 was far away ($500 airfare I think), I hated the city it was in, didn't think my chances of acceptance were great, and there was no way would I be getting a merit scholarship.
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You should go, wouldn't hurt. You might be surprised.

I have heard of applicants using other school's scholarships and high cost of attendance as leverage so it is possible, but potentially frowned upon.
 
My advice is usually to go to an interview if you have the time/money. You never know if you will like the school or get a good aid package unless you go.

Don't feel pressured to go, but don't just turn down an interview because you aren't sure if you will like the school. If there is a doubt, and you can afford to go, I would go.

TAA said:
I'm also thinking though that by canceling, there would be a happy applicant getting my interview spot who maybe actually really wants to go to that school.
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This is brought up a lot, but it shouldn't play into your decision. You actually have no idea if someone will benefit from you turning down the interview. Schools accept and interview many more applicants than they have spots, so there isn't necessarily a one for one exchange if you turn down the interview.

While people don't need to hoard interviews/acceptances, the concern for other applicants should not influence your decision. If you have other reasons for turning down the interview, then feel free to do so.
 
New situation I'm currently dealing with: I'm currently accepted to my state school and am accepted to another school elsewhere. The tuition at my state school is low compared to private schools but will still amount to about $200K in loans by the end of it in addition to undergrad loans. I also currently have a full-ride scholarship at the other school. I really want to attend my state school, but I am certain that if I am not offered some sort of scholarship, I cannot turn down the other school. My state school has a fairly substantial scholarship fund and I see people on SDN already receiving some. My question is, do I let my state school know that I got a scholarship at the other school and that I will go to that school if I am not offered a scholarship? My feeling is that this is out-of-line and that scholarships should be honors and not something that people demand, but I really want to go to my state-school and would risk looking like a jerk if I could justify financially attending there.
 
TAA said:
New situation I'm currently dealing with: I'm currently accepted to my state school and am accepted to another school elsewhere. The tuition at my state school is low compared to private schools but will still amount to about $200K in loans by the end of it in addition to undergrad loans. I also currently have a full-ride scholarship at the other school. I really want to attend my state school, but I am certain that if I am not offered some sort of scholarship, I cannot turn down the other school. My state school has a fairly substantial scholarship fund and I see people on SDN already receiving some. My question is, do I let my state school know that I got a scholarship at the other school and that I will go to that school if I am not offered a scholarship? My feeling is that this is out-of-line and that scholarships should be honors and not something that people demand, but I really want to go to my state-school and would risk looking like a jerk if I could justify financially attending there.
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I do not think it's out of line at all. Scholarships in a practical sense are meant to attract students, not honor them in any way, that's why they are monetary rather than in name only. I would definitely press your state school to justify to you why you should spend the extra 25k, 50k, 100k, etc. I think they will extoll the virtues of their school but then also realize themselves that a shiny P/F system or anatomy lab is hardly worth 100,000 in extra loans, and possibly sweeten the pot for you.
 
TAA said:
New situation I'm currently dealing with: I'm currently accepted to my state school and am accepted to another school elsewhere. The tuition at my state school is low compared to private schools but will still amount to about $200K in loans by the end of it in addition to undergrad loans. I also currently have a full-ride scholarship at the other school. I really want to attend my state school, but I am certain that if I am not offered some sort of scholarship, I cannot turn down the other school. My state school has a fairly substantial scholarship fund and I see people on SDN already receiving some. My question is, do I let my state school know that I got a scholarship at the other school and that I will go to that school if I am not offered a scholarship? My feeling is that this is out-of-line and that scholarships should be honors and not something that people demand, but I really want to go to my state-school and would risk looking like a jerk if I could justify financially attending there.
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It's ALL in how you say it... I've seen a few other threads on this topic, including one where LizzyM chimed in with suggested wording. Use the Search!
 
It doesn't hurt to ask. Just send them a message explaining your situation and how you really want to attend but it's hard to pass up a free ride.
 
TAA said:
New situation I'm currently dealing with: I'm currently accepted to my state school and am accepted to another school elsewhere. The tuition at my state school is low compared to private schools but will still amount to about $200K in loans by the end of it in addition to undergrad loans. I also currently have a full-ride scholarship at the other school. I really want to attend my state school, but I am certain that if I am not offered some sort of scholarship, I cannot turn down the other school. My state school has a fairly substantial scholarship fund and I see people on SDN already receiving some. My question is, do I let my state school know that I got a scholarship at the other school and that I will go to that school if I am not offered a scholarship? My feeling is that this is out-of-line and that scholarships should be honors and not something that people demand, but I really want to go to my state-school and would risk looking like a jerk if I could justify financially attending there.
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I think you can express that cost is preventing you from going to their school without "demanding" a scholarship. You just want to make clear to them your situation: You want to attend their school, but the moment you can't afford the price difference and would like to know if they could offer any scholarships or blah blah.
 
yehhhboiii said:
It doesn't hurt to ask. Just send them a message explaining your situation and how you really want to attend but it's hard to pass up a free ride.
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Agree.

BTW, I would not pass up a free ride elsewhere if it meant borrowing $200k+ per year for your state school. Your loan payments on that large amount would really bother you after a few months of payments when you realized that you could have avoided them by taking the free ride.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I'm definitely going to email them now and explain the situation without demanding an offer. It's kind of funny how these things happen. I was so happy being accepted to my state-school and willing to take up the $200K in loans, then School B has to make it interesting.
 
Oh, no! 😱 You can't ask them to make it interesting until you've been offered admission. To do so before the interview is just too presumptious and almost a guarantee that they'll tell you to go ... yourself.
 
LizzyM said:
Oh, no! 😱 You can't ask them to make it interesting until you've been offered admission. To do so before the interview is just too presumptious and almost a guarantee that they'll tell you to go ... yourself.
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Oh, sorry. I changed the topic of the thread about half-way though. I am already accepted to School B and they have offered me a full-ride. I would never talk scholarships during an interview.
 
At some point, the schools that have accepted you will know that you've been offered a scholarship (I think that's true...lol).
 
Take the full-ride
 
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